1998 - In Jonesboro, Arkansas, two young boys (aged 11 and 13 years) fire upon students at Westside Middle School while hidden in woodlands near the school. Four students and one teacher are killed and 10 injured.

1999 - NATO launches air strikes in Yugoslavia which was refusing to sign a peace treaty. This marks the first time NATO has attacked a sovereign country.

2003 - The Arab League votes 21-1 in favor of a resolution demanding the immediate and unconditional removal of US and British soldiers from Iraq.